Dubbo RLPB rangers win prestigious award

Two Dubbo Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB) rangers have outfoxed predators and competitors to win a prestigious national award for pest animal management.

Lisa Thomas and Rhett Robinson, members of the Goonoo Fox Baiting Program Coordination Committee, accepted the Australian Control Technologies Award at the Australasian Pest Animal Conference in Darwin recently.

The award recognises the collaborative efforts of local landholders, Dubbo and Coonabarabran RLPBs, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Forests NSW and the Central West Catchment Management Authority in protecting the threatened Malleefowl and reducing the impact of foxes in the area.

Lisa Thomas said as a community project the Goonoo Fox Control Program is a shining example of what can be accomplished by working cooperatively.

“The program has grown rapidly since March 2003, increasing from approximately 90 to 200 individual farmers now consistently fox baiting twice a year in March and July in conjunction with government agencies.

“A 20km buffer zone has been established around the Goonoo State Forest north-east of Dubbo on private and public land with more than 9000 baits being laid across 260,000 hectares during the most recent program in March this year.

“We are thrilled that the committee has received this award and recognises that programs such as these can succeed with stakeholders working together as a group,” Lisa Thomas said.

This program has had outstanding results with an 88% reduction in fox numbers and 53 previously unknown Malleefowl nest sites identified.

Recent research conducted by the Department of Primary Industries has estimated the increase in lambing percentages to be as high as 20% for group fox control programs.

Michelle Smith from Animal Control Technologies Australia said the efforts of all involved in the Goonoo community driven fox control program are impressive, and epitomise the best practice approach to pest animal management.

The next round of fox baiting will be held in mid July. For further information contact the Dubbo Rural Lands Protection Board on 6882 2133.